She's Gone

Oh god Molly, we’re gonna miss you. You have made all of us cry. We loved you!

Well, I didn’t outgrow it

Remember when you were growing up or maybe even when your own kids were growing up, there was a phrase, “They’ll outgrow it”. Meaning if a kid had some quirky way or habit or belief or attitude, it would go away as the kid grew up.

Okay, most of us or our kids did outgrow those childhood quirks. There’s one that I didn’t outgrow and can’t seem to even now. I cry about things that maybe adults aren’t supposed to cry about. I cry about animals. For example if I go to Sea World and watch the whale or dolphin show, I cry. I cannot help it, I just do. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because I subconsciously feel sorry for the animals being used that way for entertainment rather than living free in the ocean to enjoy their natural life. I’m sort of guessing here because I honestly don’t know why the tears begin to flow.

Then there’s the other time I cry and can’t help it. It’s the time when animals suffer or die. When I heard Monday that they had to euthanize Barbaro, man the tears started and wouldn’t stop. Every time someone spoke of him, it started all over again.

Crying about animals is something I just can’t outgrow. If it hasn’t happened by now, I don’t think it’s gonna.

Consider Your Visit here Today a Rest Stop

Relax and get comfy in your chair. Sit all your problems and frustrations down for a couple of minutes. There, feel better?

I have a little French lavender plant here by my desk. Close your eyes and I believe you can smell it’s relaxing soft fragrance.

Now look at the little flowers in the photo. They are orchids and their common name is very appropriately, Dancing Ladies. Imagine them swirling their beautiful little yellow skirts in time to a gentle melody.

I know that I enjoy an unexpected place to just relax for a little while, and I thought that perhaps you would too.

Enjoy and stay as long as you like. You needed this break, didn’t you?

Self Inflicted Pain

Big decision to make. Which would be more painful, hammering nails into my eyes and ears or watching The State of Conservatism, National Review Institute, Saturday on C-span? Because there are times when I do like to suffer to the max, I watched the C-span program.

There were five women on the program. There was Mona Charen, Michelle Malkin, Kay O’Beirne, Laura Ingram, and the emcee, Kathryn Lopez, who is the editor of the National Review online. How’s that for a fine panel of female conservatives?

I’m not going to quote any one of them, but instead I’ll tell you what I heard. I heard all of them at one time or another go all damp over the fact that Michelle Malkin had made a trip to Iraq and what wonderful coverage she has been doing on the war. I don’t know where they were keeping the barf bags, but they must have been somewhere close.

Most of what each of them said was that oh damn, Hillary is running and the Democrats are all so wrong etc, etc, etc. Only Laura Ingram came up with a few sane lines. The one that stuck out the most was when she said that if the Democrats had adopted a pro-life position by 08, it would be a total nightmare for the Republican party. Listen to what she said. She’s basically saying that the pro-life platform is all the Republicans have going for them in the next election cycle. Wow, that’s quite an admission, huh?

Most of the time Mona Charen was acting like she was the only one in the know. Kay O’Beirne was trying to be clever and messing with her hair way too much. Michelle was looking all pouty and confused. Bless her heart. I guess that trip to Iraq took something out of her. What a little patriot she is.

The emcee of the show, Ms. Lopez drove me freakin’ crazy messing with her clip on microphone and trying to be clever and cool. She may be a good or even great writer, I have no idea. I do know she should stay the hell away from TV cameras. They aren’t her friend. She’s neither clever nor cool. She was more irritating than any of the other women who were on the program and that’s saying a whole hell of a lot. She had some serious harpy competition.

Yes, I do plan a trip to a therapist to see why in the hell I punish myself this way. Viewing that program was some serious kind of mental, visual and aural torture. I did however find it funny that they took one another so seriously. I just don’t know why.

Friday with Fred the Cat

If it’s Friday it must be me, Fred the Cat. There’s been a lot of serious conversations this week as you humans discussed your president and his wars. Events such as that make me proud to be a cat, if you know what I mean. So anyway, let’s have a little fun and relax from all the political stuff. Let’s set a trap for one another. But what shall we use as bait in that trap?

If you wanted to catch me in a trap all you would need for bait is my cat food. If you want to catch Pop, and you are fresh out of Sapphire gin and martini ingredients, just use chilled steamed shrimp. You’d nab her in a heartbeat. As for Murphy, he would be easy prey if the bait was a little piece of pizza crust. Mr. Pop would leap into the trap if the bait was a glass of fine aged bourbon on the rocks.

If I wanted to catch you in a trap, what should I use for bait?

Why are we still there?

We invaded Iraq to take down a dictator and destroy his weapons of mass destruction. Okay, the dictator’s gone and there were no weapons. So why are we still there? The Iraqi people have been liberated and some of them have chosen to go to war with their own countrymen. How does that involve us? We gave them the ability to make their own choices and they have. Wasn’t that what it was all about?

There are some who say we should bomb the whole country. Seems an unusual thing to do to the very people we were so concerned about four years ago. As bad as things might have been under Saddam’s rule, even that would be better than being blown to smithereens. I’m fairly sure a lot of Iraqis would agree.

So we are still there and still fighting? Who exactly are our soldiers fighting? Are they fighting the people who are killing Sunnis or the people who are killing Shiites? Seems to me if you don’t know who the enemy is or why they are fighting you, it might be time to reassess the situation.

At the end of most wars, one side surrenders to the other and a winner is declared. If the US wins this war, who will surrender to us? How will we know we have won? We are told it will be when Iraq can defend itself. Are they not now defending themselves from the US? If our army and theirs cannot quell the violence, how will they ever be able to do it alone?

Since this war is not a game and the outcome cannot be decided by a score, it would appear there can be no winners. There have been scores of deaths and tragedies but no one has won. The longer we stay, the more we lose. At this point I would say it’s time to come home.

Missed It

Just as I suspected, I didn’t make it until nine last night to hear the speech. I’ll leave it to you guys to tell me what I missed. From what I’m hearing on TV this morning, there was nothing earth shaking or momentous.

On another note, have you seen Hillary’s video announcing her candidacy for president? I haven’t watched it from start to finish but I have seen parts of it on cable news shows. I have trouble concentrating on what she’s saying because my eyes are drawn to the French doors behind her. I keep expecting Bill to appear on the other side of the doors, smile and give the famous Bill Clinton thumbs up. It just seems like something he would do.
Saturday Night Live might want to work on that.

You Write the Last Line

Let’s say you get a personal call from Jim Webb’s speech writer today. He tells you he needs a closing line for Webb’s rebuttal speech tonight, the speech he’ll give after the chimp gives his State of the Union Speech. Webb’s speech writer asks you to write this closing line and make it a statement that encapsulates all the sentiments of the Americans who oppose bush’s handling of the war. You’ll want to leave a lasting impact with this statement. This also has to be something that can actually be read across the airwaves. Go for it!

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Just a little personal note. I may have lied to you guys when I said yesterday that I would watch the SOTUS tonight. I didn’t lie on purpose I just spoke before realizing the speech would be given at nine o’clock. As of late I am sleeping when I can, not when most normal people sleep. So I am restating my ambition. I will watch the speech if I’m awake, otherwise I’ll have to depend on the sound bites we will all see and hear ad nauseam tomorrow.

And finally, the good news. I’m sure the healing process will be enhanced by two things that I now have. I have a small Ball jar filled with Brach’s candy Conversation Hearts. I also have another small Ball jar filled with Valentine M&Ms. Let the pigging out begin!

Let’s see now, where were we?

Wow! Did anyone get the license number of that truck?

That’s about what it has felt like the for the last several days. Man, that was a flu with a wallop. I still show signs of tread marks too. I think Fred the Cat did a more than fair job of describing things around here. Even now my eyes feel they are beginning to melt when I try to read or focus on anything for too long.

I sort of feel like I did as a little kid when I would miss lots of days at school due to some sort of sickness. I’m all out of the loop. I don’t know which chapter we’re studying in history or what page we’re on in arithmetic. I’ve tried to keep up a little with my homework, but I’m still so far behind.

Tomorrow night is the big shindig. The big State of the Union Speech (SOTUS) is tomorrow night and I am so ready to watch and listen. It’ll be so nice to look over the chimp’s shoulder and see for the first time a lady in the chair behind him. And not just any lady either, this lady is a Democrat. We, with our November votes, made history. That alone is pretty damned special.

Speaking of the SOTUS, do you think you can predict some things that will be said during the speech? What color tie will the chimp wear? There’s a fun contest and you could win a prize if your predictions are correct. Dana Hork has this contest for each SOTUS. I enter every time and fail miserably. Entering doesn’t take long at all and it’s fun. You have until 6pm, Tuesday night to enter, but heck, do it now.

Fred the Cat and a new word I learned this week, “flu”

As you guys may know, I have only lived with humans a few years. There are lots of human terms I have learned over these years, but this past week I learned a new word, “flu”. I’m not sure what it is but I sure do know what it looks and sounds like.

Seems Pop has had this “flu”. From what I can tell it makes your hair look all funny and unkempt. It apparently prevents one from using any cosmetics and it requires the wearing of night clothes both night and day.

It also seems it requires one to cough and sneeze continuously. Tissues must be kept at close hand at all times. Folks, I’m telling you, this is not a pretty scene.

Due to Mr. Pop having to be away this week due to a previously scheduled business trip, Pop had to deal with this flu and taking care of Murphy, ND Anna and me. Lots to deal with but she did it pretty well. Because of Murphy’s age there are times when he can be a canine mental patient. For example, within about ten minutes of eating, Murphy forgets he has eaten and begins to whine for his food, loudly, aggressively and persistently. This can grind on your nerves even if you feel just fine. Pop wasn’t feeling just fine, but even her little canine mental patient didn’t throw her over the edge.

I’m not sure what is going on now but I did hear her say she thought her fever had broken. I take it that’s a good sign. I think this because if it wasn’t for her feeling some better I don’t think I would have been able to post this piece.

The first hint we had this week that things might be returning to normal was when we all heard the following from Pop. She yelled, “Is there some fucking rule that states that Condi Rice must wear drab greens and browns every damn time she visits another country?” That sounded like the return of the old Pop to us.

She asked me to thank you guys for all your healing suggestions and good wishes. That just might have been what helped.

As a cat, I don’t know much but I do know that this “flu” can sure wreck havoc on a erstwhile neat and tidy human. This stuff is bad news and hopefully it’s in Pop’s rearview mirror for a long time to come.

Have a great weekend and hopefully Pop will be back on a regular basis come Monday.

Flowers and a Thank You to you guys

It isn’t some exotic, tropical disease, but it is the mother of all flu bugs and it me hit last Thursday. File my weekend under “miserable”.

I want to thank Fred the Cat and ALL you guys for keeping Morning Martini alive this past weekend. Thank you so much. I’ll try to get back into my usual piss and moan posting as soon as I can.
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Fred the Cat here and I have a problem

Each morning since ND Anna has been a grown cat, she comes to the back door and waits to be fed. I usually eat about that time too, but I eat in my room. After we both have eaten we meet at the screen door and chat through the screen.

That all changed this week. Monday morning when I went out on the patio to meet ND Anna at the screen door, I saw something that made my heart sink. There was another cat eating with ND Anna, a large orange and white male cat. ND Anna looked at me but kept on eating. The large male cat paid no attention to me.

What did I do? Where did it all go wrong? I have suspected she had other boyfriends in the past but she’s never been so bold as to bring them to the house with her.

I feel like chewing on my Cosmic Catnip until I pass out. I have those old broken hearted feline blues. What’s a cat gonna do? I’m crushed!

The Speech in a Nutshell

America, I’m sending more troops into Iraq to try and save my lousy ass. Blah, blah, blah. See the books behind me? Remember I read “three Shakespeares” last summer.

Basically what I heard the president say last night was that facing reality is not an option.

Where the hell is our partner in crime, Tony Blair? Did bush consult with him? How many troops is he willing to send now? Oh, that’s right, they’re pulling out this year. What happened to the coalition of the willing?

It seems the president thinks this war in Iraq is going so well that we might just poke a stick in the eyes of Syria and Iran. Is he insane?

The insanity continues along with the deaths. How much longer will America put up with this?

War is not a PowerPoint Presentation

Tonight, while Mr. bush tries to sell his war snake oil, other things will be happening. There will be some families in the US frightened as they wonder if daddy will be coming home from the war when he promised. Others will be wondering when mommy will have to leave them again and go back to the war. Some wonder if daddy will ever come home again. Some wonder if mommy is sent back to the war, will she ever come home again.

Mr. bush doesn’t seem to understand that war is not a PowerPoint presentation. War is real lives being lost. War is real blood being shed and real human beings being disfigured for life. War causes warm blood to turn cold. War shreds the human emotions. War does more damage to traditional marriages than gay marriages ever could. War kills fetuses and children. War is real!

Mr. bush’s speech and actions tonight are nothing more than an attempt to save his own legacy. To American and Iraqi families, it is about so much more. His decisions are purely political but to these families they are emotionally pivotal.

Damn, This is the Last Thing We Need

“The nomination of retired Vice Admiral John Michael "Mike" McConnell to be Director of National Intelligence is part of an effort by the Vice President to tighten the Administration’s grip on domestic intelligence and grease the wheels for a more aggressive stance towards Iran, current and former intelligence officials believe.”

Trouble is when you read the whole piece it gets worse. Seems Negroponte wouldn’t do the vice president’s bidding. Will McConnell?

Here’s another quote from the article.

“The other key area of concern for the intelligence community in McConnell’s nomination is the Executive Branch’s attempt to expand domestic surveillance programs, especially those conducted by the National Security Agency.
Current and former intelligence officials say that Negroponte and his staff were not comfortable with the level of domestic surveillance or the use of NSA wiretaps that were being pushed by the White House.”

So from this article it would appear that McConnell may be a lap dog for the vice president. Jesus, will this stuff ever stop? Can we take any more of these crooked dealings?

Hello? Democratic Senators and Representatives? You can stop this now. Please do.

The Terrorist Attack that Wasn’t

Did you hear about the terrorist attack that didn’t happen at the Port of Miami yesterday? FOX news in particular tried to make this big, but try as they might, it didn’t happen.

Just three guys in the cab of an eighteen wheeler who tried to make a delivery to the Port but didn’t have the correct papers. Seems there was a miscommunication between the Port people and the driver of the rig. As a result of this problem the wheels were set in motion and reports had to be given to a bucket load of government authorities. Because two of the three men were Iraqis made the story even juicer for the FOX talking heads.

Before the news conference was given, the FOX people were practically drooling with anticipation of something big. When the facts were given by the Miami spokeswoman the story fizzled like a wet firecracker. All the speculation by FOX was doused one fact at a time.

This was a great example of how our thinking has changed over the last four or five years. A simple mistake by a foreign, and legal resident of the United States, becomes a possible terrorist attack before the facts and reasonable common sense are applied.

Perhaps a bit of Premature Jubilation

“It was a deep political intuition, and the war succeeded because when Baghdad collapsed, everything else went. It was I think at the root of the success was a deep political understanding. And the larger impression is that it showed that we have the capacity to wage this kind of war with relatively few casualties, both among combatants on the allied side and among civilians on the other side. And that I think has had a deep impression in the region and around the world. The only people in the world who still think that--who question whether or not we won in Iraq are Upper West Side liberals who aren't quite sure that we won the Cold War either—“
-Charles Krauthammer- (Speaking at AEI meeting)
April 22, 2003

Lots of "Upper West Side Liberals" around today, huh?

Friday With Fred the Cat

Hey everyone! Fred the Cat here with you today. The Pops raced around here this week doing what they called “De-Christimas-ification”. They called it that because they were removing and packing up all the signs of Christmas. While they were doing that, I caught up on some reading. I was reading a book her highness bought, it’s called, “Fiasco”, by Thomas E. Ricks. There was one particular paragraph in the book that caused me to be shocked and awed by its content.

Here’s a quote from page 164

This was just after Bremer had decided to unilaterally disband the Iraqi army.

‘The move also resulted from Bremer’s lack of experience in the region, Zinni speculated. “Bremer comes in, he doesn’t know the planning. We had spent a decade psyopsing the Iraqi army, telling them we would take care of those who didn’t fight. And he disbands it”

The Iraqi army must have felt the US had lied to them. Bremer turned away trained Iraqi fighters and made them angry. Bremer seemed to assume that all members of the Iraqi military were also members of the Baathist party. He was wrong. According to the book, Chalibi was very pleased with Bremer’s actions.

This is what happens when too many people are running the show. This is what happens when you don’t work hand in glove. This I believe is where it all went terribly wrong. It would appear this was the time when the Iraqis began to feel they could not trust the word of the United States.

How is sending 20,000 more troops over there going to fix something like this? More troops can’t fix what’s wrong. Seems to me that it just might make matters worse. You don’t win hearts and minds with lies. Trust is a fragile thing and once it’s lost it’s difficult to regain. You can’t force trust at the end of a gun, you must earn it. We cats are experts when it comes to trust. I think that it’s time to bring our humans home.

Have a great weekend!

Sending 20,000 more is a "Political Decision"

The president would like to us to “sacrifice” 20,000 more Americans to Iraq, because well gee, it might make him look much better in the history books. Remember? We guessed that it was all about his legacy. Heck, they admit it now.

“The plan would also throw more U.S. money at Iraq for reconstruction and a jobs program. Interestingly enough, one administration official admitted to us today that this surge option is more of a political decision than a military one because the American people have run out of patience and President Bush is running out of time to achieve some kind of success in Iraq.”

NBC News pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski

So we were right. This is more about bush’s legacy than anything else. Okay Democrats in DC. Let’s start with that. Throw this in his face and tell him no deal. Our military men and women are worth a hell of a lot more to us than how history will remember him. We would rather have live soldiers, than trumped up history books. He made his bed and now let him lay in it. No sacrifice to save his sorry reputation. It’s way too late for that anyway.

Surge, Sacrifice and a Bigger Shovel

We’ve all heard the old saying that tells us when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

It seems sometime next week the “decider” will tell us what his decision is regarding “the way forward” in Iraq. From what we’re hearing now he is going to demand a bigger shovel and more digging. He'll call for more troops and sacrifice. Can’t anyone stop this man? What other sacrifice will he call for and how can he justify his demands?

Was it Worth it, Mr. bush?

You told us one of the reasons for this war was that Saddam tried to kill your daddy. Now Saddam is dead. Was it worth the deaths of so many other mommies and daddies to seek your selfish revenge? Were all the deaths and injuries worth it Mr. bush? If Saddam tried to kill your daddy, he failed. You were much more successful in your quest. Because of your desires, much blood has been spilled and many children no longer have one or both their parents with them. Was it worth it Mr. Bush?

Father Nature?

I found this mushroom growing in my backyard under the hedge. I believe its common name is “Stink Horn”.

I think this might be a good morning and a good day for something light hearted. So you are invited to caption the picture if you like.

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Happy 2007!
From my point of view, 2007 looks a hell of a lot like 2006. Let’s hope there is major improvement as this year rolls on.

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Postscript
It would appear that my Dallas Cowboys have perfected the art of sucking. They’ve got some great talent but now, late in the season, they do not appear to be able to get their fecal matter together.